02D39922

Description:
This agreement is supported by funding provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (PL 117-58). This action approves funding in the amount of $909,800 to the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Council to support implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) and Strategic Plan to improve water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses within the Indian River Lagoon Estuary. BIL funding provides a historic opportunity for the IRL National Estuary Program to provide annually recurring seed funding for infrastructure improvements over the next 5 years to build and expand a lagoon-wide network of seagrass nurseries and restoration centers to respond to the catastrophic loss of seagrasses as a result of harmful algal blooms.

Activities:
Activities include:
- Indian River Lagoon Council will conduct bi-weekly monitoring of algae and cyanobacteria species identification, distribution, and abundance.
- Increased funding for increased sampling during a bloom.
- HAB-1: Support continuation of the IRL 2011 Consortium, which would function as a formal task force supported by the IRL NEP and which would develop a HAB research and restoration response plan.
- HAB-2: Seek partnerships and funding to pursue research priorities identified by the IRL 2011 Consortium that align with IRLNEP Management Conference management priorities.
- HAB-3: Continue funding and scientific partnerships to understand HABs toxicity and risks to human and wildlife health.
- Biodiversity (Level 2 - Serious)
- Biodiversity-2: Work to continue, expand, update, and improve the IRL species inventory.
- Construction of grinder pump station systems that will be connected to the Martin County Central Sewer System.
- Residential connection forms with receipts and dated photos of the before and after grinder pump station.
- The project will construct a gravity sewer system consisting of approximately 15,400 linear feet of sewer main, approximately 54 manholes, and a county-owned and operated lift station.
- Construction of a water main will coincide with the sewer main.

Subrecipient:
- Martin County: Connect to Protect Septic to Sewer Nutrient Removal Program Year 2
- City of Port St. Lucie: Septic to Sewer Conversion along the Elkcam Waterway
- Brevard County: The Micco Sewer Line Extension
- Indian River County: The North Sebastian Phase 2 Septic to Sewer Project
- Marine Discovery Center: Improving Mosquito Lagoon Oyster Reef and Living Shoreline Restoration by using only biodegradable materials
- University of Florida: Restoration of clam populations in the Indian River Lagoon for water quality improvement Year 3
- Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch: Building lagoon-wide capacity for seagrass recovery through infrastructure investments
- Marine Discovery Center: Building lagoon-wide capacity for seagrass recovery through infrastructure investments
- Brevard Zoo: Building lagoon-wide capacity for seagrass recovery through infrastructure investments
- Florida Oceanographic Society: Building lagoon-wide capacity for seagrass recovery through infrastructure investments

Outcomes:
Outcomes and outputs include Connect to Protect Nutrient Removal Septic to Sewer Conversion Year 2 ($100,000).
1. 150 homes removed from septic.
2. Septic to sewer conversion along the Elkcam Waterway ($100,000). 34 homes removed from septic.
3. The Micco Sewer Line Extension ($100,000). 22 properties removed from septic.
4. The North Sebastian Phase 2 Septic to Sewer Project ($100,000). 180 parcels removed from septic.
5. Improving Mosquito Lagoon Oyster Reef and Living Shoreline Restoration by using only biodegradable materials ($55,000). Restore 4 oyster reefs (~0.25-acre footprint) in Mosquito Lagoon using BESETM biodegradable mesh with oyster shell attached with stainless wire or BESETM reef paste (to remove step of attaching shells to mesh); restore 600 linear feet of stabilized shoreline in Mosquito Lagoon and

IRL Council

5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.2 - PROTECT AND RESTORE WATERBODIES AND WATERSHEDS

66.456 - National Estuary Program

EPA Region 4: Atlanta [EPA - RO]

Indian River, Florida United States

County-Wide

EPA-CEP-01

Infrastructure $1,819,600 (50%) percent this Project Grant was funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Act.
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 300% from $909,800 to $3,639,200.